Mounting cover for pressurized fluid canister

ABSTRACT

A structure for enabling gassing of an aerosol package while its sprayhead is in operative association with the package. The package comprises a canister having a valve assembly and sprayhead combination, the assembly being of the type in which the sprayhead has an integral stem that enters an opening in the cover member of the valve assembly or being of the type known as a stem valve in which there is a permanently connected stem which protrudes through the opening of the cover member. In the latter type, the sprayhead is a button which fits onto the protruding end of the stem. In both cases, the valve is operated by pressing the sprayhead down, which carries the stem inwardly of the cover member and raises a valve seat off a gasket that is crimped into the cover member, beneath the crown of a boss formed in the cover member. The means which enables the gassing with the sprayhead in place comprises making the opening in the crown of the boss formed in the cover member noncircular, but having a plurality of points around the periphery of the opening which supports the stem in its sliding movement, the opening having lateral lobes which are normally blocked by the gasket to enable normal operation of the valve, but which enable propellant to be forced into the valve from the outside thereof while the stem is in place. This action of the entering gas under pressure invaginates the valve, and since the seat is at the same time lifted off the gasket, the gas can and does enter into the body of the canister.

United States Patent [191 Green [111 3,827,608 Aug.6, 1974 MOUNTING COVER FOR PRESSURIZED FLUID CANISTER [76] Inventor: Edward H. Green, 11 Army Trail Rd., Addison, Ill. 60101 [22] Filed: Jan. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 322,920

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 54,872, July l5, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ZZZ/402.16, 141/20 [51] Int. Cl B65d 83/14 [58] Field of Search 322/402.16, 402.24; 141/3, 141/20 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,890,817 6/1959 Rheinstrom 141/20 X 2,961,131 11/1960 Bradbory 141/3 X 3,233,792 2/1966 Green ZZZ/402 24 3,266,678 8/1966 Green ZZZ/402.24

3,319,669 5/1967 Abplanald 141/20 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney, Agent, or FirmPerry Carvellas, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A structure for enabling gassing of an aerosol package while its sprayhead is in operative association with the package. The package comprises a canister having a valve assembly and sprayhead combination, the assembly being of the type in which the sprayhead has an integral stem that enters an opening in the cover member of the valve assembly or being of the type known as a stem valve in which there is a permanently connected stem which protrudes through the opening of the cover member. In the latter type, the sprayhead is a button which fits onto the protruding end of the stem. In both cases, the valve is operated by pressing the sprayhead down, which carries the stem inwardly of the cover member and raises a valve seat off a gasket that is crimped into the cover member, beneath the crown of a boss formed in the cover member. The means which enables the gassing with the sprayhead in place comprises making the opening in the crown of the boss formed in the cover member noncircular, but having a plurality of points around the periphery of the opening which supports the stem in its sliding movement, the opening having lateral lobes which are normally blocked by the gasket to enable normal operation of the valve, but which enable propellant to be forced into the valve from the outside thereof while the stem is in place. This action of the entering gas under pressure invaginates the valve, and since the seat is at the same time lifted off the gasket, the gas can and does enter into the body of the canister.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATEN IEU W3 5 F SHEET 1 BF 3 ATTORNEYS PAIENTEI] AUG 5W SHEU 2 BF 3 ATTORN EYS MOUNTING COVER FOR PRESSURIZED FLUID CANISTER This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 54,872 filed July l5, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is aerosol valves which are installed upon aerosol packages to enable the dispensing of aerosol product. Two types of valves which are in use today are distinguished by the construction of the sprayhead. In one case the sprayhead and a stem which enters the valve assembly are integral, so that when the sprayhead is removed it also withdraws the stem. The stem has an opening at the bottom end thereof, which, in most cases, comprises an axially extending slot that opens to the bottom end of the stem. In the second type of valve, the valve plunger which is on the interior of the valve assembly has the stern as an integral part thereof, this stem extending from the interior of the valve assembly to the exterior thereof. In this case the sprayhead is in the form of a small cylindrical button having a socket in the bottom thereof and it engages over the protruding stem. The stem also has an opening in the bottom end thereof, this opening generally being a small radial hole that connects with the hollow interior of the stem.

In both cases there is a valve housing which is held in enclosing engagement with the bottom of a mounting cover member that is crimped over the upper opening formed in the canister. The filler and packager will purchase the canisters and the valve assemblies from different manufacturers. He is required to introduce the product to be dispensed in the canister, which he normally does before he attaches the mounting cover carrying the valve assembly. Thereafter, when the valve assembly is in place, the package has to be gassed, that is, the propellant must be introduced.

Since the propellant must provide the needed pressure to expel the product, it is a gaseous material at room temperature. It can be introduced into the package in the form of a cooled liquid, or added by pressure through the valve after the valve assembly has been secured in place. In the first case, the introduction of the propellant is not difficult and can be accomplished also before the valve assembly is crimped in place. In the second case, it has been found necessary to remove the sprayhead from the assembly and introduce the propellant through the stem by suitable equipment.

The construction of the valve assembly includes in both cases a valve plunger that is spring-pressured upward. There is a boss formed in the cover member having a top crown in which there is an opening. The valve housing is crimped to the bottom of the crown with an elastomer gasket of washerlike configuration sandwiched between the upper end of the housing and the crown. The valve plunger in both cases is reciprocable within the housing, and the housing has a spigot or nipple at the bottom end thereof to which is secured a dip tube reaching normally to the bottom of the canister. Other methods of securing the dip tube are used, such as for example forcing a split ring into an opening at the bottom end of the valve housing. The upper end of the plunger is formed as a valve seat, and the spring which is provided in the bottom of the housing engages the bottom of the plunger to force the same against the bottom of the gasket. The stem valve has a stem which is integral with the plunger and the valve seat is a shoulder between the plunger and the stem. The stem protrudes through the passageway in the center of the gasket in a sliding and sealing connection and remains in this condition at all times, except that it is reciprocated up and down when the valve is operated.

There is a small opening from the interior of the hollow stem to the exterior thereon at the lower end thereof. When the valve is seated, the small opening is blocked, but when the valve is unseated, the opening establishes a communication between the interior of the stem and the chamber formed by the valve housing. Accordingly, the pressurized product can now be forced up the dip tube, into the valve housing and through the small opening in the bottom end of the stem into the hollow interior of the stem. The button sprayhead being on the upper end of the stem, the product will expand in the hollow bore of the stern and be sprayed through the nozzle of the sprayhead.

In the 'case of the other type of sprayhead, the stem is integral with the sprayhead and it enters into a socket formed in the upper face of the valve plunger. The valve seat surrounds the socket. The stem passes through the opening in the crown of the boss of the cover member, through the passageway in the gasket in a slidable and sealing connection, and into the socket. The slot or opening in the bottom end of the stem is exposed to the interior of the valve housing when the sprayhead is depressed moving the valve seat off the bottom of the gasket. In this case, the pressurized material rises in the dip tube, enters the valve housing, passes over the valve seat and into the opening in the bottom of the stem and thence expands in the hollow bore of the stem and passes out the nozzle of the sprayhead.

Heretofore, the opening in the crown of the boss has been circular to confine and guide the stem in its reciprocatory movement. This has prevented instability during use and during gassing by supporting the stem laterally.

In gassing with the gas under pressure, several disadvantages occur. In the first place, there is an extra step required after gassing, and that is the installation of the sprayheads. This is more easily done while the package is not in pressurized condition. In the second place, after the package has been gassed, and especially in the case of packages where the valve spring is intentionally made very weak to obviate fatigue during use of the package, installing the sprayhead will cause a small amount of the pressurized product to be expelled. This is annoying because it contaminates the package and may even be of such quantity that the nozzle of the sprayhead is clogged, requiring clearing.

One of the most important objects of the invention is to eliminate these disadvantages. The sprayheads may be installed on the stems before gassing, and the gassing is accomplished without removing them. After the passing operation, the sprayheads remain in place and the package is ready to be packed or provided with a tamperproof seal. Additionally, the packages which have been gassed by this method will always be clean and not contaminated prior to reaching the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the package is gassed with the sprayhead in plaCe. This is achieved by proaround the stem and permitting the propellant to pass into the package.

The sprayhead may have notches in its bottom skirt to enable the propellant to pass to the lobes under the sprayhead in cases where the sprayhead is pushed down upon the crown of the boss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pressurized package which is being filled over the sprayhead in accordance with the invention using a suitable pressure fitting; a

FIG. 2 is a median sectional view taken through the upper portion of a package such as that of FIG. 1 showing the same in condition for use, the sprayhead and stem being integral;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the relationship of the parts of the valve of package and the sprayhead during the gassing operation;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through a modified form of the invention, using the identical valve as that of FIGS. 2 and 3, but a different sprayhead construction;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a cover member constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the sprayhead of FIGS. 2 and 3 removed from the valve assembly;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating a so-called stem valve in which the sprayhead is separable from the stem which remains permanently with the valve assembly as a part thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing the gassing of an aerosol package in which the structure is that illustrated in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 illustrating a modified form of the invention, but taken as a sectional view along line 9-9 of FIG. 7 and in the indicated direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a pressurized package in the process of being gassed, the package comprising a complete canister with valve assembly and sprayhead, the filling being accomplished without removing the sprayhead. The canister 10 is known in all details, and in accordance with modern practice is provided with a domed top 12 having an opening with a rolled edge. The manufacturer of the package purchases valve assemblies and sprayheads and assemblies these two items onto the canister which normally is purchased from a different source. As seen in FIG. 1, the valve assembly closes off the open rolled edge of the canister, so that after assembly the observer sees only the rolled rim 14 of the cover member 16 (FIG. 5) of the valve assembly.

The construction of the valve assembly of the invention varies in only one respect from prior valve assemblies, and hence for the general nature of the valve assembly of the invention, it will be useful to refer to the following US. Pat. Nos. 2,777,735; 3,045,877; 3,129,893; 3.233,792; 3,235,140; and 3,266,678. So much of the valve assembly as significant to the invention is designated generally by the reference character 20 and 20' in the several views.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the completed valve assembly with sprayhead 22 mounted thereon is shown in condition for use, assuming that the package has already been filled. In the center of the cover member 16 there is an upstanding cylindrical boss 23 which has the interior parts of the valve assembly 20 crimped therein by means of suitable crimps 24. The presence of the boss 23 produces an annular well 26 surrounding the boss, and the well being below the level of the rim 14. The interior parts of the valve assembly comprise the valve housing 28 of plastic or metal, such housing having an upper flanged lip 30 that is pressed upwards as shown in the drawings, to sandwich an elastomeric gasket 32 between itself and the crown 34 of the boss. The gasket is of washerlike construction and has a central passageway 36 that is coaxial with the valve housing 28 and with other elements to be described.

The valve housing 28 provides an interior cylindrical chamber 38 within which there is a plunger 40 urged toward the gasket 32 by means of a helical spring 42, the spring engaging at its bottom end on the lower ribbed surface 44 of the valve housing, and its upper end against a shoulder 46 formed in the valve plunger 40. Suitable grooves may be formed in the valve plunger 40 in accordance with known practice to permit free passage of aerosol product past the plunger in either direction. The upper end of the plunger is provided with a valve seat 48 that is urged into sealing engagement with the bottom surface of the gasket 32 such that when pressed against the gasket as shown in FIG. 2, there is no communication between the valve housing chamber 38 and the passageway 36 of the gasket 32.

There is a port 50 and a spigot 52 at the bottom end of the valve housing 28 to which there is secured a dip tube 54 to establish communication with the bottom of the canister 10. The valve housing is often called an eyelet in the art, especially when it is made out of metal.

The sprayhead 22 in this construction is of the type which has an integral depending stem 56 that passes through an opening 58 in the central raised portion 60 of the crown 34, slidably and sealingly engaging through the passageway 36, entering into and seating within a socket 62 provided in the center of the plunger 40. There is a pilot boss 64 in the center of the socket 62 which engages the bottom end of the hollow bore 66 to stabilize and help seat the bottom end of the stem 56 in the socket 62. The lateral sides of the stem are guided and supported by the opening 58. The plunger is provided with an annular gallery 68 at its upper end just radially inside the valve seat 48, and there is an axial slot 70 in the stem which opens to the lower end thereof and extends far enough so that when fully seated in the socket 62, the upper end of the slot will open into the gallery 68.

The operation of the valve is effected by simply pressing down on the sprayhead 22 against the bias of the spring 42, dropping the valve seat 48 downward and off the bottom surface of the gasket 32. Pressurized material rising up the dip tube 54 enters the chamber 38, passes over the valve seat 48, enters the gallery 68 and passes into the upper end of the slot 70 and thence into the hollow bore 66 of the stem 56 from which it is directed to pass through a suitable spray nozzle 72 that is installed in the sprayhead.

The details of the structure described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,233,792, and are not intended to be limited to a valve structure which uses a gallery. For example, the valve assembly may be of the type which is disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,777,735 and 3,129,893 in which there is no gallery and the slot extends above the valve seat 48 to enter the gasket when the valve is closed, but is exposed when the sprayhead is pressed downwardly. Likewise, the invention is not limited to a structure in which the sprayhead and stem are integral, but applies as well to the so-called stem valve structure illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8.

Heretofore, it was deemed necessary to gas the pressurized packages by either one of two methods, one of which involved the cooling of the gas propellant to temperatures at which the same was liquid and filling the canister with propellant prior to installing the cover member of the valve assembly, and the other of which utilized a fitting that entered the opening 58 while the sprayhead was not in place. In the latter case, a nozzle is introduced into the passageway of the gasket and the pressurized propellant was admitted to the interior of the valve through passageways in the nozzle. One form of this latter type of filling is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,386,479. In both methods, as in the case of the method feasible by the use of the invention herein, the product to be expelled by the propellant is introduced into the canister 10 before installing the cover member 16 with its valve assembly 20.

According to the invention, it is feasible to fill the pressurized package with the propellant, i.e., to gas the same at room temperature and under pressure without removing the sprayhead.

l-Ieretofore, it has been deemed necessary that the opening 58 fit the stem 56 relatively close, providing an easy sliding fit, but nevertheless being round. It has been found that the use of a noncircular opening does not prevent perfect operation of the valve, so long as the stem is supported in the opening at a plurality of locations around its circumference. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening 58 of the invention has, in this instance, four points 74 which define the path of vertical movement of the stem 56 in its up and down telescopic movement into and out of the valve assembly. The opening 58 also has lateral lobes or notches 76 which are unobstructed at all times, whether the stem 56 is in place or not, and hence whether the sprayhead 22 is in place or not. Accordingly, if propellant is forced around the sprayhead, it can freely enter the lobes 76, push the gasket out of its way in an invaginating action, and force the product to enter the interior of the canister through the valve, assuming that the valve seat 48 is away from the gasket 32.

In FIG. 1 a fitting or adapter 80 is shown enclosing the sprayhead, entering into and sealing itself into the well 26 of the valve assembly 20. Propellant under pressure is led to the fitting 80 by a suitable conduit 82 from a source (not shown). For example, a gasket 84 on the lower end of the fitting engages the sides of the boss 23 (FIG. 4) in sealing connection. Preferably, a central pusher member 86 on the interior of the fitting 80 will engage the top end of the sprayhead and depress the same to lower the plunger 40 to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This clears the way through the valve for the entering pressurized propellant. The sprayhead 22 may be pressed down against the crown 34 by the pusher member 86, which may be spring suspended to provide a resilient pressure so as not to injure the mechanism of the valve assembly 20. In such case, with the sprayhead engaged against the crown 34, such sprayhead preferably will have notches 88 in its lower skirt 90 so that the propellant may pass into the opening 58 under the skirt 90. The bottom end of the pusher 86 may be grooved as shown at 94 to enable the central passageway 96 to communicate with the interior of the fitting 80 and pass propellant around the sprayhead 22. The arrows of FIG. 3 shows the path of the entering propellant, and the invagination of the center of the gasket 32 is shown at 92. Where a more conventional type of sprayhead is used, without notches, as in FIG. 4, the fitting may be constructed so that the sprayhead is not pushed all the way down, its skirt 90 in such case being spaced above the crown 34. Also, the fitting gasket 84 may engage the bottom of the well as in FIG. 3.

Although only four lobes 76 are shown in the opening 58, there may be more or less and of different sizes and configurations, so long as there are provided unobstructed paths for the flow of the pressurized propellant into the interior of the canister past the valve assembly.

In FIG. 9 there is illustrated a form of opening 58 in which the lobes 76 are smaller and more numerous than those of the opening illustrated in FIG. 5. Again, as in the case of FIG. 5, the stem is supported at a plurality of points around the periphery of the opening 58, s shown at 74.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is illustrated a form of valve assembly and sprayhead combination which uses what is called a stem valve. In this case, the plunger 40 of the valve assembly 20 has an integral stem 56' which protrudes from the crown 34 of the boss 23 of the cover member 16. The upper end of the valve plunger 40' has a valve seat 48 which is pressed against the lower surface of the gasket 32 by means of the helical spring 42 that is contained within the chamber 38 of the valve housing 28. At its lower end, the stem 56' has a small opening which is normally blocked on its exterior by the gasket 32 as seen in FIG. 7. There is a button type of sprayhead 22' having an internal socket 57 which receives the upper end of the stem 56 so that when the valve is opened, pressurized product may emerge by way of the nozzle 72.

The internal construction of the valve assembly 20' may be as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 or may follow the structure which is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,266,678 in which case the opening 70' is in the form of a slot.

In FIG. 7 the valve is shown in condition ready to be used, and it is closed. One presses down on the sprayhead to open the valve.

In FIG. 8 the sprayhead is in place, and the package is being gassed. The adapter is in place with the gasket 84 engaged over the boss 23 to seal the interior of the adapter. The pusher 86 has pressed the sprayhead down to open the valve, and the ropellant under pressure is being forced into the interior of the canister 10 through the valve. The central bore 96 of the springpressed pusher leads the propellant to the transverse grooves 94 from which the propellant flows into the interior of the adapter 80. Thence the propellant flows through the notches 88 provided in the skirt 90' of the sprayhead 22', enters the opening 58 through the lobes 76, forces the portion of the gasket immediately around the stem 56' to invaginate as shown at 92, thereby enlarging the passageway 36 of the gasket so that the propellant may be forced into the chamber 38 and thence to the interior of the canister 10. As soon as the propellant within the canister 10 reaches the same pressure as the pressure in the pump (not shown) which is leading the propellant to the adapter 80, the adapter is removed and the valve closes, confining the propellant within the package.

The arrows shown in FIG. 8 enable one to follow the path of the propellant during the charging of the package.

In designing the lobes 76, one must take the requirements of the pressurized package into consideration. In the forms which are shown, considering the proportions of the lobes as relate to other parts of the valve assemblies illustrated, there is no danger of the pressure of the valve seat 48 or the internal pressure within the chamber 38 extruding the gasket out of the lobes. The sizes and shapes should be chosen with the softness of the elastomeric compound, thickness of the gasket, and the pressures encountered in mind. The gasket 32 must have sufficient resilience and flexibility to permit the invagination effect with the pressures encountered and yet must have sufficient body and stiffness so that the net of support provided by the webs between lobes will be sufficient to retain the gasket in place during use of the pressurized package.

Variations may be made in the structure of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in the appended claims. For example, the fitting or adapter 80 may be of practically any construction which will seal the boss 23 so that the only place that the propellant brought to the fitting can escape is into the interior of the valve assembly or 20' by way of the lobes 76 of the opening 58. The form of lobes can be varied in configuration and in size. Likewise, the specific design of the valve is capable of wide variation while still using the teachings of the invention.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly.

said sprayhead and valve assembly being of the type in which the sprayhead is mounted on a hollow stem with an opening in the lower end thereof and in which said valve assembly has a cover member with a central boss, a valve housing, a plunger with valve seat end, a spring and an annular elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stem passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter the lower end of the stem extending through the opening and passageway and entering into a socket formed in the upper face of the valve plunger,

said valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket, but adapted to be opened to establish communication between the valve housing and the opening in the sprayhead stern when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket;

means for enabling the filling of the package with pressurized propellant without removal of the sprayhead comprising:

said central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and an area unobstructed by the stem, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobsttructed area from the exterior of the boss while the'sprayhead is depressed.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the central opening has protruding lobes at the corners of the square.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the lobes are rounded.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the lobes are rounded.

5. In combination with the structure of claim 1, the sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during gassing of the package.

6. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly,

said sprayhead having an integral hollow stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead,

said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stern passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket provided in said plunger,

the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and seated against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead stem is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket,

the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem, and an area unobstructed by the stem and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.

7. The structure as claimed in claims 6 in which the central opening has protruding lobes at the corners of the square.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 7 in which the lobes are rounded.

9. The structure as claimed in claim 6 in which the lobes are rounded.

10. In combination with the structure of claim 6 the sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during the gassing of the package.

ll. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly,

said sprayhead comprising a button having a socket in the bottom end thereof leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead,

said valve assembly including a hollow stem, a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stem passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter the upper end of the stem passing through the passageway in a sliding sealing connection and protruding through the opening the crown of the boss, and engaging into the socket of the sprayhead,

the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat of the plunger being pressed and sealed against-the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said opening and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the opening in the stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat off the gasket,

the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stern and and an area unobstructed by the stern and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.

12. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly,

said sprayhead having an integral hollow stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead,

said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stem passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket providing in said plunger,

said plunger having an annular gallery at its upper end just radially inside the valve seat,

the upper end of said axial slot, when said stem is fully seated in said plunger socket, opening into said gallery,

the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket,

the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and an area unobstructed by the stem and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the assageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.

13. In a valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly,

said sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during gassing of the package,

said sprayhead and valve assembly being of the type in which the sprayhead is mounted on a hollow cylindrical stem with an opening in the lower end thereof and in which,

said valve assembly has a cover member with central boss, a valve housing, a plunger with valve seat end, a spring end an annular elastromeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the cen' tral boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket. the lower end of the stem extending through the opening and passageway and entering into a socket formed in the upper face of the valve plunger,

said valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket, but adapted to be opened to establish communication between the valve housing and the opening in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket;

means for enabling the filling of the package with pressurized propellant without removal of the sprayhead comprising:

said central opening of the cover member being of a noncircular configuration providing a plurality of support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and lateral round lobe means which are unobstructed by the stem, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination when pressurized propellant is forced through the lobe means from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.

14. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly,

said sprayhead having an integral hollow stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead,

said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket provided in said plunger,

said plunger having an annular gallery at its upper end just radially inside the valve seat,

the upper end of said axial slot, when said stem is fully seated in said plunger socket, opening into said gallery,

the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket,

the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and an unobstructed area by the stem and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.

15. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly,

said sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during the gassing of the package, said sprayhead having an integral hollow cylindrical stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead, said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket provided in said plunger,

said plunger having an annular gallery at its upper end just radially inside the valve seat,

the upper end of said axial slot, when said stem is fully seated in said plunger socket, opening into said gallery,

the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket,

the central opening of the cover member being of noncircular configuration providing a plurality of support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and lateral lobe means which are unobstructed by the stem and have sufficient web area between them to provide support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the lobe means from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed. 

1. In a valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly. said sprayhead and valve assembly being of the type in which the sprayhead is mounted on a hollow stem with an opening in the lower end thereof and in which said valve assembly has a cover member with a central boss, a valve housing, a plunger with valve seat end, a spring and an annular elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stem passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter the lower end of the stem extending through the opening and passageway and entering into a socket formed in the upper face of the valve plunger, said valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket, but adapted to be opened to establish communication between the valve housing and the opening in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket; means for enabling the filling of the package with pressurized propellant without removal of the sprayhead comprising: said central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and an area unobstructed by the stem, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobsttructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.
 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the central opening has protruding lobes at the corners of the square.
 3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the lobes are rounded.
 4. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the lobes are rounded.
 5. In combination with the structure of claim 1, the sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during gassing of the package.
 6. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly, said sprayhead having an integral hollow stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead, said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plUnger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stem passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket provided in said plunger, the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and seated against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead stem is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket, the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem, and an area unobstructed by the stem and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.
 7. The structure as claimed in claims 6 in which the central opening has protruding lobes at the corners of the square.
 8. The structure as claimed in claim 7 in which the lobes are rounded.
 9. The structure as claimed in claim 6 in which the lobes are rounded.
 10. In combination with the structure of claim 6 the sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during the gassing of the package.
 11. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly, said sprayhead comprising a button having a socket in the bottom end thereof leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead, said valve assembly including a hollow stem, a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stem passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter the upper end of the stem passing through the passageway in a sliding sealing connection and protruding through the opening the crown of the boss, and engaging into the socket of the sprayhead, the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said opening and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the opening in the stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat off the gasket, the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and and an area unobstructed by the stem and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.
 12. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized Propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly, said sprayhead having an integral hollow stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead, said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the portion of the stem passing through the passageway in the gasket being cylindrical and of uniform diameter, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket providing in said plunger, said plunger having an annular gallery at its upper end just radially inside the valve seat, the upper end of said axial slot, when said stem is fully seated in said plunger socket, opening into said gallery, the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket, the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and an area unobstructed by the stem and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the assageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.
 13. In a valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly, said sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during gassing of the package, said sprayhead and valve assembly being of the type in which the sprayhead is mounted on a hollow cylindrical stem with an opening in the lower end thereof and in which, said valve assembly has a cover member with central boss, a valve housing, a plunger with valve seat end, a spring end an annular elastromeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the lower end of the stem extending through the opening and passageway and entering into a socket formed in the upper face of the valve plunger, said valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket, but adapted to be opened to establish communication between the valve housing and the opening in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket; means for enabling the filling of the package with pressurized propellant without removal of the sprayhead comprising: said central opening of the cover member being of a noncircular configuration providing a plurality of support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and lateral round lobe means which are unobstructed by the stem, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination when pressurized propellant is forced through the lobe means from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.
 14. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for uSe with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly, said sprayhead having an integral hollow stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead, said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket provided in said plunger, said plunger having an annular gallery at its upper end just radially inside the valve seat, the upper end of said axial slot, when said stem is fully seated in said plunger socket, opening into said gallery, the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket, the central opening of the cover member being of a square configuration providing support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and an unobstructed area by the stem and having sufficient support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the unobstructed area from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed.
 15. A valve assembly and sprayhead combination for use with a pressurized package to enable the package to have pressurized propellant introduced thereinto in a gassing action while said sprayhead is in operative association with said valve assembly, said sprayhead having a skirt at the bottom thereof and the skirt being notched to permit entry of pressurized propellant notwithstanding the engagement of the bottom of the skirt with the boss during the gassing of the package, said sprayhead having an integral hollow cylindrical stem with an axial slot at the bottom end thereof opening to the end, the hollow of the stem leading to the nozzle of said sprayhead, said valve assembly including a cover member having a central boss with a crown, a plunger with a valve seat end, a valve housing, a spring and an elastomeric gasket crimped to the underside of the crown of the central boss, there being a central opening in the boss and a passageway in the gasket, the stem extending through the central opening and passageway and into a socket provided in said plunger, said plunger having an annular gallery at its upper end just radially inside the valve seat, the upper end of said axial slot, when said stem is fully seated in said plunger socket, opening into said gallery, the valve assembly normally being closed because of the valve seat end of the plunger being pressed and sealed against the gasket and cooperating with said gasket to prevent pressurized product in the package from moving from the housing into said slot and thence into said stem, but adapted to be opened when the sprayhead is depressed to establish communication between the valve housing and the slot in the sprayhead stem when the sprayhead is depressed to push the valve seat end off the gasket, the central opening of the cover member being of noncircular configuration providing a plurality of support points for substantial guiding engagement with the stem and lateral lobe means which are unobstructed by the stem and have sufficient web area betweeN them to provide support for the gasket during use, the gasket being of sufficient resilience to enable invagination of the passageway when pressurized propellant is forced through the lobe means from the exterior of the boss while the sprayhead is depressed. 